EXTREME HIGHS AND LOWS

Sunday was one of the hardest days in racing any of us have experienced, with the heart wrenching loss of ABUFFALOSOLDIER after his fantastic win at Cheltenham.

A horse we have had since a 3-year-old store, bought by his owners Mahler & The Wailers direct from his breeders in Ireland, ‘Buffalo’ was a horse we, as a team, have loved to watch progress throughout his career. Buffalo exuded class on the gallops at home from the day he came to Lambourn. He won his Bumper, Novice Hurdle and Novice Chase as well as competing in and winning high-class handicaps along the way, but Buffalo was a staying Chaser in the making, and we were only just getting to see the best of him.

Regular partner on the track James Bowen was Buffalo’s biggest fan, and helped make him one of the most fantastic and brave jumpers of a fence you would ever see. Our Travelling Head Girl Esme Cook adored Buffalo, rode him every day and looked after him, and always had the faith Buffalo was a proper horse, who could go all the way to the top.

The combined efforts of the team at home, James and Esme’s hard work, and of course Warren’s careful handling, all culminated in the scintillating performance we saw from Abuffalosoldier and Sean Bowen on Sunday at Cheltenham in the Holland Cooper Handicap Chase over 3m 3f.

Sean and Buffalo lead from start to finish, ears pricked and travelling comfortably throughout the race, taking lengths out of the rest of the field at every fence, jumping as well as you would ever see a horse jump at Cheltenham, and positively charging up the hill to win by nearly 3 lengths. To see a horse and jockey enjoy themselves so much throughout a race was a joy to see, and the world was Buffalo’s oyster.

There was time for celebrations and congratulations, and for Esme to reach Buffalo and give him the well-earned pats he deserved, before he sadly collapsed and could not be saved. He passed away surrounded by love and having shown us he was the horse we always knew he could be. The ultimate athlete and a breathtaking showman!

Buffalo will be sorely missed by Warren, the team and his lovely owners, and we are all still coming to terms with the sad loss of such a lovely horse.